Where can I find a solution to get extra money by developing free apps?

As a developer of windows metro apps, I find it frustrated that there are no ways to make money. My apps are creative and with lots of downloads,but it is free,I almost cant afford the daily life. So can somebody offer me an effective solution to help me get over it?

Another tactic is free trial with purchase option OR in-App purchase to unlock features/levels/power ups/etc above and beyond what is in the "lite" version.

I agree with gpobernardo that users dislike ads and that users should also be willing to spend on apps if they really want something.

However, read the forums and see how many are clamoring for VLC to play every video file format free. I mean, frantic to get at it and use it "free" while repressing the knowledge that they are actually paying the devs by having ads winking at them. To be sure, the devs are like you. They want to get compensated and they should. These same users crying out for "free" VLC would not dream of spending $3 USD for MoliPlayer Pro which has been on Windows Phone a long time and has played every video format for many satisfied users. Moli has 4.5 stars with over 6,000 reviews - must get downloaded - must work. Yet some refuse to pay $3.

As a developer of windows metro apps, I find it frustrated that there are no ways to make money. My apps are creative and with lots of downloads,but it is free,I almost can’t afford the daily life. So can somebody offer me an effective solution to help me get over it?

The most generic method is to offer a free version loaded with a reasonable amount of ads while at the same time offering a paid ad-free version for an equally reasonable price. But tread carefully for users tend to dislike ads, especially when they become disruptive. The creativity should come in how those ads are implemented.

If you still believe in the integrity and spirit of human generosity, you could try offering a "donation" button for your patrons.

In both cases, I have no idea how much a developer would make from his or her apps. Thankfully Microsoft removed the annual developer fee (or something of that sort) required to maintain the availability of his or her apps in the store.

Free apps outnumber paid apps more or less tenfold in terms of number of downloads, but there are apps priced at $2.99 and yet have been downloaded 3000+ times. That's an "easy" $9,000.00... the only question is how long it took to reach $9,000.00 from $0.00.

At any rate, a person who could afford to buy a >$200.00 phone should be able to purchase an app for $0.99... given the means. Best of luck!

Another tactic is free trial with purchase option OR in-App purchase to unlock features/levels/power ups/etc above and beyond what is in the "lite" version.

I agree with gpobernardo that users dislike ads and that users should also be willing to spend on apps if they really want something.

However, read the forums and see how many are clamoring for VLC to play every video file format free. I mean, frantic to get at it and use it "free" while repressing the knowledge that they are actually paying the devs by having ads winking at them. To be sure, the devs are like you. They want to get compensated and they should. These same users crying out for "free" VLC would not dream of spending $3 USD for MoliPlayer Pro which has been on Windows Phone a long time and has played every video format for many satisfied users. Moli has 4.5 stars with over 6,000 reviews - must get downloaded - must work. Yet some refuse to pay $3.